Adapting Ultra ATA drives to Serial ATA controllers is both a practical and inexpensive proposition thanks to “generic” parts from expert sources like TekGems. Unfortunately, the only “perfect” model we tested, the SD-SATA-IDE (aka SD-ADSAIDE-S1), is no longer available on TekGems’ site!

And this underlines some of the problems purveyors of “brandless” parts must face: The adapter we chose has been available under various “brand names” of companies that we aren’t sure even exist, and the other two parts lacked so much as a UPC code on the factory packaging!

Certainly buying the “right” adapter becomes problematic with so many products appearing and vanishing without no evidence that the manufacturer even existed, but reliable vendors can at least make any misadventures painless for the buyer.

What we’re left looking for is an adapter the same size as our preferred model, with the same Silicon Image SATALink controller chip. Lo and behold, we found one again at TekGems, Product No 5661, which is available in limited quantities. Better still, its Product No 4247 is the same product and available in greater quantities.

Recent availability of cheap SATA DVD writers will substantially reduce the need for these adapters, making them even harder to find. We’d recommend dealing with a specialist with a reasonable warranty and exchange policy. Even as fly-by-night manufacturers pop up and disappear, companies like TekGems act as a go-between to make sure your needs are taken care of. It’s worth keeping an eye on their merchandise should the need to keep older components in your system arise.